The MathWorks' Simscape Targeted at Modeling and Simulating Multidomain Physical Systems
(Product News, 07 Mar 2008 )
The MathWorks has launched Simscape, which enables engineers to model and simulate multidomain physical systems. Employing a physical network approach to model building, Simscape allows engineers to describe the physical structure of a system rather than the underlying mathematics. From the model, Simscape automatically constructs equations that characterize the behavior of the system and then integrates them with the rest of the Simulink model.
"Simscape provides control design engineers across automotive, aerospace, defense, and industrial equipment industries the ability to view how different physical components work together in a single system," says Paul Barnard, marketing director for design automation at The MathWorks.
Simscape provides libraries containing fundamental elements from electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical domains that can be combined together in a single environment to create more sophisticated components.
In addition, Simscape lets engineers convert models into C code using Real-Time Workshop so that they can run models in real time and perform hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. Complete integration with Simulink and automatic code generation tools provides an uninterrupted development process within the control design workflow.
Finally, Simscape is a foundation for add-on modeling domains available from The MathWorks: SymHydraulics, SimMechanicsT and SimDrivelineT provide extensive pre-built capabilities for mechanical and hydraulic modeling.
"Engineers can now use Simulink to simulate multidomain physical systems together with the control system," says Barnard. "On the desktop and during HIL testing, they can explore design options and uncover system problems early in the development process: this saves time and reduces costs."
